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As crazy, long, interesting, and complicated as sentences can be, a proper sentence contains two key components:
a subject and a predicate.
A subject is like the main character of a sentence: it is the person, place, or thing that all of the
action revolves around. It receives or does the action.
A predicate is the plot of the story and contains everything that happens to or because of
the subject. In simple sentences, the predicate is the verb. For example, in the sentence
below, Bob is the subject and sat is the predicate:
Bob sat.
All sentences have a subject and a predicate, making each sentence like a tiny story a unit that makes sense by
itself. Most sentence errors occur when this basic unit is disrupted. This handout focuses on three common
sentence errors and suggests a variety of ways to correct them.
In this example, both We always eat at In N Out and they prefer Burger King are complete, independent
sentences. Each makes sense on its own and includes both a subject (we, they) and a predicate (eat,
prefer).
Option #1: Divide the splice into two separate sentences using a period.
Example: We always eat at In N Out. They prefer Burger King.
Option #2: Connect the two spliced segments with a coordinating conjunction: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Example: We always eat at In N Out, but they prefer Burger King.
Option #3: Connect the spliced sections using a semi-colon, which can join related sentences.
Example: We always eat at In N Out; they prefer Burger King.
Option #4: Link the spliced sections with a subordinating conjunction: although, while, as, since, though, etc.
Example: Since we always eat at In N Out, they prefer Burger King.
Example: We always eat at In N Out although they prefer Burger King.
Rev 12/17/14
Common Sentence Error #2: Run-On Sentences
Run-on sentences are like comma splices, except they combine two independent sentences without any
punctuation at all. Run-on sentences are an example of overcrowding forcing two or more sentences into a
slot for one.
The corrections for run-on sentences and comma splices are the same. For a list of the various ways run-on
sentences can be corrected, see options #1-4 above.
In this example, we always eat at In N Out is a complete sentence. Here, however, the addition of the word
since makes the sentence incomplete; the reader is left wondering: Since this, then what?
This common sentence error can be corrected by extending the sentence to provide the missing then
what. The original fragment can be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence.
Fragments also happen when a sentence lacks either the subject or the full predicate. This often happens when
sentences start with coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. This is fine, but the sentence still
needs both the subject and the predicate.
In this example, And go there often is a fragment. There is no subject no person, place, or thing that does
the going.
To correct this common sentence error, link the fragment to the previous sentencetogether they express
a complete thoughtor add the subject to the second sentence.
Rev 12/17/14